“Bravo, Samvel Mayrapetyan!”
Another poster entitled "For State Needs" has appeared on one of the buildings in Teryan Street. The author of the poster, U.S. sculptor Roger Clambik, arrived in Armenia to support the tenants of Teryan and Lalayants streets.
By a government decision, a few buildings in the streets were recognised a zone of priority interest.
"Throughout the world, including the USA, the state privatizes buildings for its needs but nowhere in the world are the rights of citizens violated. I think we can make public voice audible to relevant bodies through art," said the sculptor.
Before arriving in Yerevan, the Clambiks engaged several Armenian artists in their "Art Commune: International Lodging of Artists."
Today, residents of Teryan and Lalayants streets, accompanied by Mr. and Mrs. Klambiks and a group of Armenian artists, staged a protest against the RA government.
"These buildings cannot be demolished as they have a social history and importance. These are the only buildings that do not depress him when walking along Northern Avenue. I always avoid looking up when passing by the avenue buildings," art historian Nazareth Karoyan told A1+.
Artist Arman Grigoryan does not understand the meaning of the phrase "priority interest."
"Under the guise of priority interest the buildings will be given to private businessmen.
By a government decision, the area was given to Local Developers Company owned by Samvel Mayrapetyan.
"Another building at the intersection of Abovyan and Pushkin was alienated under the pretext of "state needs" and given to Samvel Mayrapetyan. The latter drove out the residents and renovated the building. Today, Second Armenian TV Channel Company (H2) carries out a project inside the building with boys and girls staying there under lock and key. Bravo, Samvel Mayrapetyan!" said Vardan Geravetyan, a tenant of Teryan street.
Protester Elena Ghazaryan advised the government not to use the phrase "state needs."
"Let them say openly that we are expelled forcibly for the needs of Samvel Mayrapetyan. They had better renovate the buildings than pull them down. They are much more durable than the recently erected buildings of Northern Avenue," she said.
Remind that the RA Administrative Court will continue hearing into the case of Teryan and Lalayan citizens on June 29. The residents demand that the Armenian government rescind the decision on recognizing the territory as a zone of priority interest.
